Regulator News Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

19 September , 2025

Federal government consults on proposed new protections for aviation consumers

The federal government is conducting another consultation on the proposed design and implementation of aviation consumer protections. The consultation being undertaken by the Department of Infrastructure and consists of two key elements: CHOICE’s media release on the consultation and the government’s proposals is available here: https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/media/media-releases/2025/september/aviation-consumer-protection-scheme-a-welcome-first-step-but-still-falls-short

17 September , 2025

ANZ Admits to Unconscionable Conduct

Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcomes the announcement that ANZ has admitted to widespread misconduct and has agreed to pay $240 million in penalties. ANZ has admitted to unconscionable conduct, overstating bond trading data by tens of billions, and widespread misconduct affecting nearly 65,000 customers. The matters will now be considered by the Federal Court which…

10 September , 2025

Consultation Open to Strengthen Unit Pricing Code, Address Shrinkflation

Consumer advocacy groups have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to open consultation on strengthening the mandatory Unit Pricing Code. Treasury has released a Consultation Paper on ways to strengthen the Retail Grocery Industry (Unit Pricing) Code of Conduct administered by the ACCC. The Code is a mandatory industry code of conduct made under Part IVB…

2 September , 2025

Call for Expressions of Interest for new COBCCC Consumer Representative

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) is inviting suitable applicants to apply for the role of consumer representative on the Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (COBCCC). Details of the purpose and conditions of the role, including renumeration, are as follows: Purpose of the COBCCC Purpose of the Consumer Representative A Consumer Representative to the…

8 August , 2025

New Report Shows Telcos Continue to Fail Vulnerable Consumers

A report released today (August 7 2025) by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) finds telcos are failing to consistently support customers in financial hardship and, in some cases, are unintentionally causing or making financial stress worse. The report, ‘Keeping connected: Experiences of telco consumers in financial hardship,’ is informed by a review of over 900…

22 July , 2025

Most Consumers Consider Communications an Essential Service

Home internet and mobile connectivity are now considered essential by the vast majority of Australians. Price is the number one factor when choosing a plan, yet few people are actively checking the market for a better deal. These are some of the key insights from the new Consumer Sentiment Tracker, commissioned by the peak communications…

7 July , 2025

Centrepay Reforms Take Home the 2025 Consumer Advocacy Award

At the 2025 ACCC National Consumer Congress the Consumers’ Federation of Australia, with help from CPRC’s Chandni Gupta, was proud to present our Consumer Advocacy Award for the best consumer advocacy campaign or project of the past year. The nominees this year were: 1. 10 Successes of the National Scams Campaign – scams are a huge…

18 June , 2025

Optus Admits to Unconscionable Conduct, Advocates Welcome ACCC Action but Highlight Need for Strong Telco Regulation

Australia’s peak communications consumer body, ACCAN, has welcomed news that Optus will pay one of the largest consumer law penalties in Australian history – a $100 million fine, subject to court approval, for unconscionable conduct. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett said, “Unconscionable conduct is a high bar and one that Optus has spectacularly surpassed in its behaviour…

13 June , 2025

CHOICE study finds most sunscreens fail to meet packaging claims

Consumer group CHOICE has tested 20 popular SPF 50 or 50+ sunscreens and found 16 of 20 products didn’t meet their SPF claims. Sunscreens were chosen from a range of brands, retailers, and price points, and tested by experts in a specialised, accredited sunscreen lab. “Of the 20 sunscreens we tested, only four products actually…

2 May , 2025

“No Australian Left Offline”, report finds strong support for concessional internet

Australia’s peak communications consumer body, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network – ACCAN, is calling on the major parties to commit to a concessional internet product delivered by NBN Co to provide a cost-of-living boost to low-income Australians this Federal election. This follows a new ACCAN report undertaken by Essential Research which shows significant popular…

1 May , 2025

ICAN welcomes ASIC review into motor vehicle finance industry

The Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) has welcomed the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) timely review of the motor vehicle finance industry. The review aims to address systemic issues affecting consumers in regional, remote, and First Nations communities. ASIC’s review, announced in March, will scrutinise lenders, brokers, and intermediaries for compliance with consumer protection…

14 April , 2025

Unsolicited door-to-door sales the target of Australia’s first Designated Complaint

Consumer Action Law Centre is calling for a nationwide ban on unsolicited selling in the first ever designated ‘super’ complaint presented to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). A designated complaint is a new power that allows complainants to raise an issue with the ACCC, which the ACCC is required to consider and come back with…